A Miracle Convention?Fine words without actions are meaningless but actions usually only come about after fine words have been written - Victoria Brignell celebrates a new UN conventionFrom New Statesman, June 05, 2008

Ensuring Access for AllDenise Alkins knows first-hand removing barriers for people with disabilities doesn't happen overnight.From The North Bay Nugget, June 04, 2008

BBI Helps Support New Global Universal Design Commission; SU's Peter Blanck Named Chairman of BoardPeter Blanck, University Professor and chair of the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University (BBI), has been named chairman of the board of directors for the new Global Universal Design Commission Inc. (GUDC). The commission, a nonprofit organization and collaboration supported in part by BBI, brings together some of the most knowledgeable and influential people in the areas of accessible design and legislation. From Syracuse University News, May 30, 2008

Learning to Thrive Despite Having a Visual DisabilityChristy Costa feared her working days were over when she lost most of her eyesight five years ago. She was 45 at the time. Her situation took a turn for the better, however, after a rehabilitation counselor referred her to the office skills training program at The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.From redOrbit, May 27, 2008

General Assembly of the European Disability ForumThree European disability movement leaders, among them the EDF Vice President, were unable to fly to Ljubljana for the Annual General Assembly of the European Disability Forum (EDF) due to discrimination on the grounds of disability, announced the President of EDF Yannis Vardakastanis at the opening of the Assembly on 24 May.From HWelt, May 26, 2008

Gratifying Careers in Assistive TechnologyAccording to the 2000 census, there are more than 50 million people with disabilities in the U.S. These folks represent a huge critical mass of consumers that can benefit from assistive technology. Yet strange as it seems, people with disabilities have been treated as a marginal market by most companies.From DiversityCareers.com, May 22, 2008

EU 2008 - "The full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities is an important contribution towards a fairer society," says Slovenian Minister Marjeta Cotman.The full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities is an important contribution towards a fairer society, pointed out the President of the EU Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, Slovenian Minister Marjeta Cotman, at the conference on the human rights of persons with disabilities, organised under the Slovenia EU Council Presidency by the Slovenian Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs in cooperation with the European Commission. The core theme of the conference is the political implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, focusing on the progress made by European policy in its implementation.
From Slovenian Presidency of the EU 2008, May 22, 2008